Foldable sheet material display device



Dec. 2, 1947.

E. L. SMITH FOLDABIJE SHEET MATERIAL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 26, 1944 INVENTOR. EDWARD L. SMITH Patented Dec- 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL DISPLAY DEVICE The present invention relates to display devices formed of sheet material such as heavy paper or cardboard and more particularly to a novel device of this general character which may be.

kept in fiat-form to enable a substantial number to be placed together in a compact pile for storage and shipping, or may be folded into the proper form with certain parts interlocked and set up for use as a table tent, table favor, table place card, or the like.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and advantageous device of the general character specified.

Another object is to provide an article of the general character described which may be quickly erected from flat to display form and certain parts interlock-ed to maintain the device in its display form.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described wherein the set up form will produce a three-dimensional effect or one of depth.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which in its set-up form provides a display portion or leaf and a background portion spaced rearwardly therefrom.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which in its set-up form provides a front display leaf portion and to the rear thereof a background leaf portion connected along a transverse line and diverging from said line to separate the background from the display and give the effect of depth.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described comprising a front display 'portion free at its top and integral at its bottom with a rearwardly extending base, a back member integral at its lower edge with the rear edge of the base, and a background member integral at its top edge with the corresponding edge of the back and inclined downwardly and forward- 1y to the lower edge of the display portion or leaf with which it is interlocked.

A further object is to provide a display device comprising a single strip folded to provide a front display leaf supported at its bottom, a rearward ly extending bottom or leaf, a back or leaf extending upwardly from the rear edge of the bottom, and a background leaf extending downwardly and forwardly to the lower edge of the display leaf with which it is interconnected, the base having an infold which tends to prevent rocking and to hold the display leaf away from the background.

Other objects, features, and advantages will appearupon consideration of the following detailed description and of the drawings, in which Fig; 1 is a vertical section from front to rear through line ll of Fig. 2, of one embodiment of the invention inset-up position, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device in set-up position.

Referring to the drawings, the set-up display device ID of the illustrated form of the invention is made from a, relatively long strip or blank of suitable sheet material such as heavy paper, suitably shaped as by stamping out from stock material and separated by fold lines H, l2 and I3 formed as by scoring, into a front display portion or leaf l4, a base portion or base l5 having an intermediate fold line IS, a rear supporting portion or leaf I1 and a background portion or leaf The display leaf M is cut out with an outline to suit the general display effect desired and to conform to display matter printed thereon. For example, the device or table tent bears printed thereon a picture of a cocktail glass and two figures of a woman and a man dancing on the base of the glass and around the stem. The display leaf l4 may also be formed above the figures of the dancers as printed and outlined on the display leaf, with a wider portion to carry certain printed words or other matter.

The background leaf I8 extends downwardly to the base of the display leaf l4 and its free lower end should be secured as by an interlocking connection with another part of the display device near the fold line H. As indicated in Fig. 2 this may be done by providing the base of the display leaf H with extensions l9 which terminate at the sides of the base l5 and by providing slits 20 in leaf [8 extending upwardly from its lower edge and providing tabs 2| which can be positioned over the front of extensions l9 while the central part of the base [8 is to rear of the base of the display leaf. At the fold line It, the base or leaf I5 is folded in and this not only tends to prevent rocking of the device l0, if on the fiat top of a support, but tends to hold the display leaf l4 away from the background member l8. As a matter of experience it is known that downward pressure on the base (Fig, 2) to flatten it out would swing display leaf [4 back against background leaf l8.

At the fold l3, there may be two aligned fold lines [3 at opposite sides of a projection or tab 22 which is cut out of leaf I1 and when the device is set up or assembled, this tab projects upwardly in prolongation of leaf l8 and may be used for handling the device and also to provide additional room in a good place, for additional printed matter.

The display leaf I4 is printed in attractive colors and when seen against an appropriately colored background member produces a very pleasing appearance which is augmented by the shadows thrown on the background by the display leaf. Obviously the display on leaf l4 may take many forms.

It should be understood that various changes may be made and that various features may be used without others, without departing from the.

true scope and spirit of the invention.

What I claim is: A display device in the form of a single sheet divided by transverse fold lines into anerect display leaf of suitable outline, a base leaf extend ing rearwardly from the fold line at the base of the display leaf, a rear leaf extending upwardly from the fold line at the rear edge of the base leaf, and a background leaf extending downwardly from afold at the top of said rear leaf to the base of the display leaf, the lower edges of the display leaf and the background leaf being formed with cooperating interlocking means adjacent to the fold line between the base and the display leaf and wherein the background leaf is provided with two slits at its lower edge forming downwardly extending tabs at its side edges and the base of the display leaf is provided at the sides with lateral extensions at the front of which said tabs are passed, the remainder of the lower portion of the background leaf being to the rear of the display leaf.

EDWARD L. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

